Vice President J.D. Vance Takes Questions from Maine Wire Reporters at Bangor Event

Vice President J.D. Vance took questions from Maine Wire reporters Jon Fetherston and Seamus Othot Thursday afternoon at his appearance in Bangor.

Cheers erupted in the venue at Fetherston’s introduction at the start of the question-and-answer period, prompting the Vice President to remark that “we like this guy.”

Fetherston asked Vance to give advice to the people of Maine for holding their elected leaders accountable when it comes to fraud in the state.

Vance responded by first emphasizing the role of the federal government in addressing fraud, saying that they need to “show up and arrest [someone committing fraud] and try to send [that person] to prison.”

The Vice President went on to discuss the importance of addressing fraud at all levels of significance.

“When we have what is defined as ‘low-level fraud,'” Vance said, “too many of our Department of Justice leaders under the Biden Administration said that was too low-level to actually go after.”

“One of the best things you can do when you go and arrest somebody and throw them in prison when they break the law,” the Vice President said, “is yes, it’s justice for that one person, but it also sends a message to all the other fraudsters that we’re not going to tolerate this crap anymore.”

“The best and most actionable thing you can do,” said Vance, “because you’re not going to get help from the governor, right? We all know that. She hasn’t taken fraud very seriously.”

Vance also referenced Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) face-off against President Donald Trump (R) last year during an event at the White House over the participation of biological males on all-female sports teams.

“Governors won’t be governors if they continue to allow men in women’s sports,” President Trump said, before looking to Governor Mills and asking her what she was going to do.

“You better do it, because you’re not going to get federal funding,” Trump said directly to Mills.

“We’re going to follow the law, sir,” Mills replied. “We’ll see you in court.”

“Even if you think that men should play in women’s sports,” Vance said of the incident, “how is that the issue you care most about in the State of Maine?”

[RELATED: Trump and Mills Go Head to Head Over Trans Row]

Vance then turned his attention back to what he felt Mainers could do to help combat fraud in the state.

“So what you all can do is keep your eyes open,” he said. “I don’t have any faith in your [state] government right now that they’re going to fix this problem, but so much again of the best stuff that we’ve gotten on the anti-fraud task force has been from local officials and local citizen journalists.”

“Keep your eyes and your ears to the ground,” he urged. “There is unfortunately fraud all around us. If we’re going to get at this problem, we’re going to need citizens to take it seriously. I know you are. Let’s just keep at it.”

JD Vance answers a question from Maine Wire reporter @LocalPoliticsis about what Maine citizens can do to help combat fraud while state leaders are turning a blind eye to the issue: pic.twitter.com/hfL2CUJLzu

— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) May 14, 2026

Othot asked the Vice President about a provision in the state budget “enshrin[ing] protections for fraudsters if they get their federal funding cut” by substituting state funding.

“How do you think that that can be fought on the federal level without just taking those currently diffuse costs and putting them even more directly on the Maine taxpayers?” Othot asked.

[RELATED: Supplemental Budget Includes $5M for “Reproductive Health Care” and “Family Planning” Providers]

Here, Othot refers to a clause in the supplemental budget recently signed into law by the governor that allows any Medicaid providers that have been defunded by the federal government to receive reimbursement from the state.

This measure was tucked in Part Z of the supplemental budget, which established millions of dollars in ongoing funding for “reproductive health care and family planning” providers.

Also under this section of the supplemental budget was language substituting state funding for Title X grant recipients in the event that federal money should be restricted or rescinded, as well as if the grantee withdraws from the program due to the “imposition of conditions attached to the funding.”

Crazy but true: Maine Dems snuck a provision into the budget that will make YOU pay for any fraud that's uncovered by the Trump administration.@SteveRob explains: pic.twitter.com/HMMmM0Sl3i

— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) April 10, 2026

Although the Vice President was unfamiliar with the state’s new policy of using state funding to reimburse Medicaid providers who have been defunded by the federal government, he said that it “unfortunately doesn’t shock [him].”

“Throw the people that enable the fraud the hell out of office. They’re not worthy of your support,” said Vance. “And it’s going to keep happening unless we kick them out of office.”

“We’re working very hard to work with these states, but if the states aren’t going to work with us, we’re going to force them to comply with the anti-fraud mandate,” the Vice President continued. “It’s very simple. We’re going to use those tools at every step of the way.”

“I don’t frankly care whether the far-left politicians in this or that state try to protect the fraudsters, we’re not going to protect them under the Trump Administration,” Vance said in response. “And that is my solemn promise to every person in the state.”

Janet Mills snuck a provision into the new supplemental budget that will force Maine taxpayers to pay for any fraud uncovered by the Trump administration.

Maine Wire reporter @Seamus_Othot asked JD Vance if the federal government can do anything to protect Mainers from this… pic.twitter.com/elQfiWI9sM

— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) May 14, 2026